Transportation of P2.34 million worth of Marijuana intercepted in Benguet

Kibungan cops conducting routine police checkpoint intercepted the possible transportation of dried marijuana plants worth of Php 2,340,000.00 and arrested one (1) suspect in Brgy Poblacion, Kibungan, Benguet on October 22, 2021.

Based on the reports submitted to PROCOR Regional Director, PBGEN RONALD OLIVER LEE, the suspects were identified as Moses Bogatti Pad-ay, 36, arrested, and an alleged Dante Acdang, still at large.

According to Kibungan MPS, they were conducting regular police checkpoint operations when a red Tamaraw FX wagon approached the checkpoint area. Upon arriving, the driver, identified as Dante Acdang, immediately disembarked from the vehicle and ran away leaving his lone passenger, Moses Bogatti Pad-ay, behind.

Members of the checkpoint team chased after Acdang while the others proceeded to check on the vehicle. Upon inspection, they noticed at the back portion of the vehicle bulky cellophane partially wrapped with a yellow sack containing suspected marijuana stalk. This prompted them to hold suspect Pad-ay and immediately alert and coordinate with PDEA and RECU-COR K9 for the confirmation of possible illegal drugs inside the vehicle.

RECU-COR K9 conducted paneling to the said vehicle that confirmed the presence of illegal drugs inside and led to the discovery of three (3) dried marijuana in tubular form weighing more or less 3 kilograms with Standard Drug Price (SDP) amounting to Php 360,000.00 and one (1) sack containing dried marijuana stalks weighing 16.5 kilograms with SDP amounting to Php 1,980,000.00.

Markings and inventory of the pieces of evidence seized were conducted on-site in the presence of the suspect and witnessed by Prosecutor Mark C Maranes, Barangay Kagawad Darwin Dagdag, and PDEA-CAR representative.

Further, the confiscated drug evidence were brought to the Regional Crime Laboratory Office for laboratory examination while the arrested suspect was brought to the custody of Kibungan MPS for proper disposition prior to filing of a case for violation of RA 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against him.

Meanwhile, an intensive manhunt operation is being conducted for the apprehension of the other suspect, Dante Acdang. (PROCOR-PIO)